Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture

Rating:
Summary: A Trip Into Antiquity
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this tape on the old, traditional hulas of Hawaii. You won't find the popular, swaying palm Waikiki-type hulas with grandmas strumming ukes, but the chanting/percussion hulas of antiquity. There are some good interview with kumu hula's, or master teachers of hula, and the only drawback is that they are a bit competitive with one another. Everybody pushes their own hula school. But this is the real deal hula, a dying art, and it's inspiring. About 20% of the tape is narration and kumu hulas being interviewed, and all the rest is the dancing.

Rating:
Summary: Maika'i(Wonderful, good)history of Hula
Review: This documentary gives the viewer, whether they see Hula for the first time, or are involved in Hula, a perfect example of what Hula was in ancient times in the days of the Kapo'e Kahiko(people of old) and what it is today. Kumu Hula(Hula Master, Vicki Holt-Takamine, the Producers and Directors went beyound the call to portray a very important part of our cultural connection to the Hula, which was one of the only means to transcribe with dance and Oli(chants, the history of our past. Our Hula Halau(Hula School)Pukalani Hula Hale of Maui was proud to participate in the making of this film. Mahalo a nui loa(thank you very much)for making it available to the world.

Kahu(Reverand)Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr., Pukalani, Maui Hawaii

Rating:
Summary: A respectful and significant look at a sacred tradition
Review: This is a beautiful film that honors the Kumu Hula, the teachers of the ancient Hawaiian tradition of hula. Not the modern version of swinging hips and flowing hands, but an older ceremonial style that includes drumming and chant. The pace is slow but it helps to bring you into the mood of the work being done by these teachers and their students. As the case says (I own a copy): "This is Hawaiian culture as few outsiders have ever seen it: rich, expressive, colorful and totally unique." Mahalo!

Rating:
Summary: This film respectfully helps to preserve the culture.
Review: This is not only an entertaining film, but this film also respectfully helps to preserve the culture. The kumus are wonderful sources of knowledge, the scenery and dancing are beautiful, and the dancers themselves are really beautiful each in their own way.